Rodmond Huska is no longer at Tec Voc High School, but staff are making sure his name won’t be soon forgotten.

In early June, the school unveiled a plaque recognizing the former student and the role he played in getting a second elevator built for the school.

Huska, who was born with spina bifida, died in a Denver hospital in June 2009 due to complications that developed after he was admitted with a urinary tract infection.

He was returning home from celebrating his 21st birthday with family in Las Vegas. He had been in the hospital for close to a month, and his plight made headlines across the city.

"The school really recognized Rodmond’s contributions," said Nicole Bouchard, who taught Huska in broadcasting and media arts.

"He wasn’t just involved in our program — he was active in every aspect of Tec Voc."

As a student, Huska was instrumental in pushing Tec Voc and division administration to install a second elevator in the school in 2006, enabling him to access all three floors of the school’s massive broadcasting studio.

Huska, who graduated in 2008, was vigorous in his pursuit of a career in broadcasting, and was known for being the front row cheerleader at pep rallies, and enthusiastically jumping in to help with the school’s productions.

The elevator has since paid for itself, providing relief for broadcast students moving equipment, workers making deliveries in and out of building, and for injured staff and students, Bouchard said.

"It has benefitted the entire school," she said. "He really gave back to the school and that was the big reason the school wanted to honour his name."

Huska’s mother, Cheryl, said the honour means a lot to her family.

"To have a piece of the school he made sure was accessible for everybody, we’re proud," she said.

"We’re proud of the elevator, and we’re more proud of our son. We wish he was here to see his name put to the elevator, but know that he’s looking down at us and he’s proud."

Huska was as stubborn as he was arresting, often being the centre of attention in home videos, his mother added.

She hopes his name and reputation for confidence despite his disability carries on throughout the school.

"He was heard. And that’s what was important," she said.

"He had the voice and the personality to be heard."

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